GOP only wants to help rich, white males
If you’re a woman, here are things they’ve done and are doing.
Do you want to get paid the same as a man for the same job? Should you be able to sue for back pay if you’ve been underpaid based on gender?
I’d think that’s a no-brainer. However, the Lily Ledbetter Act was enacted in 2009 to supersede the Supreme Court’s decision, though all but three GOP representatives voted against it.
The GOP doesn’t think women deserve the same wages for the same job. And Missouri’s Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin thinks businesses should be able to discriminate against women and blacks, Asians and Hispanics, too.
And too bad if you’re assaulted. Thirty-one male GOP senators voted against the Violence Against Women Act because it would protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender questioning, undocumented, and Native American women. They think violence against these women is OK.
Most women know about the GOP’s fixation on our “lady parts.” They want to end legal abortions — even in cases of rape or incest — and they want to decide who can get contraceptives. I think that should be between a woman and her doctor, but Republicans think they should have the final say-so.
Of course, those issues only affect women. But do you have children? Well, I hope you’re wealthy enough to enroll them in pre-school because the budget of the Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan Republican presidential ticket could cut Head Start by 20 percent. And they want to cut funding for public education. Well, they’ve got to pay for those millionaires’ tax cuts somehow.
Are the kids college-bound? That’s wonderful — if they and/or their parents can afford it. But Romney supports (of course) Ryan’s budget plan, which would cut federal student aid, causing roughly a million students to lose their Pell Grants. Oh, and student loan interest will double.
Of course, young people can enlist and go to college on the GI Bill. But what happens when they get out?
The Senate Republicans blocked a measure that would have provided $1 billion over five years to help veterans find work in their communities.
So, if you’re a veteran, drop the thought that the GOP cares about you.
They’re strong on defense, though. They approved funding for tanks the Army doesn’t want and planes the Air Force didn’t request.
Or maybe they just don’t want to upset their defense contractor donors. However, that’s speculation because Republicans voted down the Disclose Act intended to prevent political donors from hiding their monetary contributions.
This was made possible by the GOP-appointed majority on the Supreme Court that ruled that corporations are people and can donate as much as they want to political campaigns. They also ruled against Lily Ledbetter and in favor of strip searches for anything — even running a stop sign. Do we want a GOP president who can appoint more flunkies to our Supreme Court?
So, women, minorities, parents, students and veterans, the GOP doesn’t seem to be working for you.
Older folks? Retirees or those about to retire? I hope you’ve got money in your mattress because the GOP wants to privatize Social Security. That way, you can invest your Social Security in the stock market — and pray that another Great Recession doesn’t happen.
And your Medicare won’t fare well under a Romney/Ryan regime, either. Ryan actually wants to cut benefits. He proposed dismantling Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system, leaving millions of seniors to come up with more money to pay for care out of pocket.
So, if you’re a rich white male, the GOP does good things for you. Anybody else? Fuggetaboutit.
Suzanne Conaway of Kansas City is retired from information technology. To reach her, send email to oped@kcstar.com or write to Midwest Voices, c/o Editorial Page, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoWhich PRESIDENT did what I consider the ultimate insult to women Suzanne? Hint, the initials are WJC and he was President from 1993-2000…
And of course, Kennedy showed his “concern” for women by leaving MJ Kopechne to drown and was never called to account for this on earth…
Other then this, your posting leaves me ROTFLMAO…. Women increasingly realize that they can have either 4 more years of declining living standards or they can vote for R&R and have the OPPORTUNITY to improve their and their family’s living standard….
Bill Mccwiliams
7 months, 1 week agoSure they will need that extra standard of living, if R&R gets to decide who gets birth control and legal abortions.
Matt McKinley
7 months, 1 week agoScare’m if you got nothing else to run on…you wreak of desperation.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoBill,
R&R think abortion should be settled by each state vs. federal govt. edict. A packet of birth control pills is $10, the big 0’s average middle class standard of living DECLINE has been over $4,000….Which would a thinking woman take I wonder???? This question excludes the Fluke’s of the world that want it for “free”….
Steven Fetter
66223
7 months, 1 week agoJust when you think the political discourse cannot go lower. you find it can.
Glen Enloe
7 months, 1 week agoWhat a tired and dated old argument. It’s the typical “he’s for the little guy” chestnut. She must be drinking what Biden was drinking the other night.
Yanwen Xia
Overland Park
7 months, 1 week agoThat’s why I said Republican party has to change itself in the next two decades in order to survive. The population makeup will be totally different from what it is now. Any party that wants to be relevant and dominant must adjust with demographic trends
Suzanne Conaway
7 months, 1 week agoGeorge, where does one find birth control pills for $10? That’s usually the co-pay. Most prescription pills are more like $50. $600 a year is a significant amount to women at the low end of salaries.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months agoDo you agree birth control pills are $9 at WalMart Suzanne????????????????????